324 SIKKIM HIMALAYA. Chap. XIV. 



as adopted in the Great Exhibition building of 1851. 

 It is also well worthy of remark that the brightest colours 

 are often used in broad masses, and when so, are always 

 arranged chromatically, in the sequence of the rainbow's 

 hues, and are hence never displeasing to the eye. The 

 hues, though bright, are subdued by the imperfect light : 

 the countenances of the images are all calm, and their 

 expression solemn. Whichever way you turn, the eye is 

 met by some beautiful specimen of colouring or carving, 

 or some object of veneration. The effect is much height- 

 ened by the incense of juniper and sweet-smelling herbs 

 which the priests burn on entering, by their grave and 

 decorous conduct, and by the feeling of respect that is 

 demanded by a religion which theoretically inculcates and 

 adores virtue in the abstract, and those only amongst men 

 who practise virtue. To the idol itself the Boodhist 

 attaches no real importance ; it is an object of reverence, 

 not of worship, and no virtue or attribute belong to it 

 per se ; it is a symbol of the creed, and the adoration is 

 paid to the holy man whom it represents. 



Beyond the temples are the chaits and mendongs, 

 scattered without much order ; and I counted nearly 

 twenty-five chaits of the same form,* between eight and 

 thirty feet high. The largest is consecrated to the memory 

 of the Rajah's eldest son, who, however, is not buried here. 

 A group of these structures is, as I have often remarked, 

 extremely picturesque, and those at Tassiding, from their 



* In Sikkim the form of the cube alone is always strictly preserved ; that of the 

 pyramid and hemisphere being often much modified. The cube stands on a flight 

 of usually three steps, and is surmounted by a low pyramid of five steps ; on this 

 is placed a swelling, urn-shaped body, which represents the hemisphere, and is 

 surmounted by another cube. On the latter is a slender, round or angled spire 

 (represented by a pyramid in Burma), crowned with a crescent and disc, or sun, in 

 moon. Generally, the whole is of stone, with the exception of the spire, which is 

 of wood, painted red. 



